Chapter 20: Hyrule Castle attacked (part 1)

It was so hard to be patient when you had waited for so long. Ganondorf Dragmire couldn't help but to look out of the castle window every now and then for any sight of the old witches, even though he knew they wouldn't be as stupid as to show themselves. Even if they decided to fly out in the open it would be near to impossible to spot them in this darkness.

He went through their current planning in his mind yet again. He would send the witches for the two remaining spiritual stones. Hopefully the Zoras would join his side and he would be able to get the Triforce before the Gorons reported to the king that their stone was missing. He was sure there wouldn't come any call from the forest. Then he would use the Golden Power, nothing could stop him then, to take over Hyrule. It was a simple plan but everything had to go real quick.

Growling silently to himself he exited his room and went to find the princess. It would be more interesting than staying inside his room. This felt like a game, a very important game, and she was his opponent.

Zelda woke with a start. "Dad!" She held her hand outstretched in front of her as if to grab a hold of something, or someone.

"Why waste your precious dreams on him?" Impa asked from her chair.

Zelda didn't answer. It had been such an awful dream. She slid out of her bed and ran out the door without putting on anything over her nightgown or anything on her feet.

As if I'd let her go to him all alone, Impa thought and rose from her chair to follow Zelda.

It was in the middle of the night but Zelda was sure that her father was still up working. Her long nightgown flapped around her legs. The cold floor made her feet turn numb as if she had been running through snow.

"Daddy!"

The door flung open and her father looked up in surprise. His astonishment was quickly replaced by annoyance at the sight of her and his eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean by rushing in, in such a manner, at a time like this?"

He rose and walked over to her with long strides. The room was dreadfully dark, not in the same inviting darkness as the rest of the castle. How he had ever been able to work in this gloom was a mystery. Her father stood before her like a tall black shadow and she had never felt smaller or more insignificant.

"I had a nightmare."

She heard the weak words escape her mouth and still it felt like someone else had spoken them. She tried to make herself as small as possible. She didn't want to say anything against him. She didn't want to be only an annoyance to him.

"Did you really think you can bother me with such unimportant things as you wish? Haven't we raised you properly? Haven't I told you that you're not allowed to call me…"

"I… I'm sorry father, forgive me!" She pleaded, careful to use the word father instead of dad. "Please, father, forgive…"

A loud smack cut her off. For a moment everything seemed to turn white before her eyes, then black, and the sound of it kept echoing inside her head. He had slapped her! The person she loved most in this whole wide world had slapped her.

Her legs refused to bear her any longer and she sank down on the ground, grabbing a hold of his clothes.

"Father, I promise I'll be better, I'll be good, but please, listen to what I dreamt!"

He tried to make her let go but she clung to the fabric, refusing to let go of him.

"It was just a dream, get out of my sight!" He yelled and tried to get rid of her more aggressively but she held on. Zelda used him as support to pull herself to her feet and then threw her arms around him. "I love you! I love you! Don't say you don't want to look at me! I love you! Listen to me, please!"

With all his power he threw her off of him, but she automatically kept her balance. Staggering backwards she stared at her father who brought a hand to his chest as if he was in pain. "Don't you understand?" he said. "I can't stand looking at you because it tears me apart!" The last words were forced through clenched teeth. "You're supposed to be dead!"

"I'm…" she quietly began and then shouted at him. "I'm Zelda… not my mother!"

She turned around and ran as fast as she could, exiting the room and kept running through the long hallway until someone grabbed her wrist and forced her to stop.

"Do you understand now why the Sheikah don't love? You have much to learn."

"Impa…"

Zelda slowly brought a hand to her own face and felt that even though her heart seemed to shatter to pieces inside of her, her cheeks were dry. She hadn't cried a single tear.

"I don't want to be like this Impa, I want to love…"

"You already love more than enough", Impa replied. "Tell me about that dream."

Zelda shook her head and refused to answer. Impa grabbed her shoulders and shook her but still the princess wouldn't talk.

"Zelda…" Impa began and searched her gaze.

"It was nothing. I put too much into it… I was frightened… It was just a dream"

"Snap out of it!" Impa told her and her grip around her shoulders tightened. "You must always assume the worst, never believe that it's all right, and have a dream that affect you like this ever been just a dream before?"

Zelda seemed to take in her words.

"Do you see?"

Impa began to shake her again but this time more gently. "What if you choose to ignore this?"

"I'm sorry Impa… I'll try to be better…"

"You can't improve perfection", someone interrupted. Zelda and Impa quickly turned their heads in unison gaze upon Ganondorf. "My, such a tension", he went on. "What disturbed our princess and brought her out of bed at this hour?"

Zelda who had, at the sight of Ganondorf, put a plain look on her face changed it to a bit frightened and newly awake instead.

"I had a nightmare and was so confused that I ran out of my room."

She giggled as if she was embarrassed and brushed her hand against her cheek as if to check if tears were left.

"The future ruler of Hyrule scared by a mere nightmare?" Ganondorf raised his eyebrows at her. A scared Zelda was for some reason hard for him to imagine. "How very awful. Do you wish of me to accompany you back to your chamber?"

"It would make me feel much safer, thank you."

Ganondorf suddenly noticed that the bodyguard was gone. Hadn't she been here just a few seconds ago? But the long corridor lay empty on either side of them. Ignoring the feeling of uneasiness he offered Zelda his arm.

"Princess, since we're both so interested in Hyrule's legends. Aren't you curious to what may lie behind the door that opens with the help of the Ocarina of Time? Do you think it's as easy as to just walk inside?"

"I know what's inside."

"Really? Do you mind telling me? I'm so curious to how close my guesses are."

"It's something solid that belongs to one and can be used by few."

Ganondorf laughed. "You're just as fond of riddles as I am I see." Zelda remained silent. "But you're making it too easy for me. It won't take long before I figure out the answer."

"I know that you will or I wouldn't have said anything. I also know at which time you will have the answer."

Ganondorf watched her in deep thought before he noticed that they were standing in front of her door. "Ah, but we're already here! Then I bid you good night princess."

"May my wishes concerning you come true", she said, her paleness giving her an almost ghostly appearance.

"Uhm… thank you Princess…"

"It's your move", and with that she closed the door in his face. When she turned around expecting to see her familiar room she instead found herself staring into the face of a yellow animal with long ears with black tips and slim eyes.

"Keaton?" she uttered.

"Surprise!" Taime shouted and took off the yellow mask. "I couldn't resist paying you a visit. I wanted to show you my new mask but you really made me worry when you weren't here so I told myself, I told myself that if the princess isn't back within…"

"You sneaked into the princess's room in the middle of the night?" Impa interrupted, popping up from nowhere holding a knife against Taime's throat.

"Yeah, to show her my mask… Where was I? Oh, so I told myself that if the princess…"

"Thank you Taime. It's a lovely mask." Zelda said, a rush of tiredness suddenly hitting her.

"Yes, isn't it? And of course our smart princess recognized it to be a Keaton immediately!"

"Keatons are very interesting indeed but I thought masks and toys were popular last year… and for children…"

"Do you think Keatons are just something temporary that's popular for a week?" Taime asked as he put on the mask again and grabbed her hands.

"No, it's an interesting myth but…"

"I'll give this mask to my baby when I get one", Taime told her enthusiastically. "I can't believe kids don't want these things anymore! However, that means I got it cheap and that I didn't have to bargain with that scary mask salesman."

Zelda removed the mask from his face. "We have work to do."

"Work? Now?"

"There are a few people I must speak to first but I want you to tell the general to expect a visit from me."

"Now?"

"No, when he wakes up. I must ask you to exit my room so I can change now, this is certainly not a time to go back to sleep."

"Zelda, no need to be shy, I promise I won't look…"

"Out!" Impa said and kicked him out of the room. When she closed the door Zelda had miraculously changed during the few seconds it took to throw Taime out.

"Seems as if some of that training paid off", Impa said with a nod.

When Ganondorf had escorted Zelda he immediately set off towards Sharp and Flat's room. As he stood outside he leaned against the door to hear their voices inside. They were up this late?

"No, Flat, I don't want anything to do with them!"

"The princess is worried about us Sharp. Maybe it would be best to leave. We could move in with our friend at Lake Hylia. I'm sure he'll take us in."

"It'll look suspicious if we go there and we can't drag them into this."

"It feels so long ago the four of us worked together. Such a shame they didn't get married… I guess you don't want us to go to her either?"

"No!" Sharp hissed.

"I'm worried about our old friends."

"How about you worry about us? We're the ones who have been continuing on researching magic songs. What if Dragmire..."

He didn't get further because at that moment Ganondorf opened the door.

"What if I what?"

"Assume things that aren't true", Sharp finished his sentence roughly and gave Ganondorf a dark stare.

"I'm not assuming anything, if you don't count that I assume I can count on you to help me with some questions I have concerning… music."

"It's late", Sharp stated and threw a glance at his younger brother.

"Yes, very late", Flat agreed.

"But you're up. I promise it won't take long, just a nice, short little discussion."

"Go ahead then", Sharp said while looking most resentful.

"Can you tell about the Song of Time? I've gotten the impression that it's a very special song."

Sharp snorted. "Can't help you. We don't know more than anyone else does."

"Is that so?"

Zelda hurried through the castle. First she needed to talk to Sharp and Flat and make sure that they were safe, then she would make another try to talk to her father. She would make sure the army was ready for battle and she would send Kaepora Gaebora to the Zoras and Taime to the Gorons.

When she reached the composer brothers' room she saw light from the thin line at the bottom of the door. They were up? She knocked but didn't wait for them to open. She felt too tense to do so. Something was wrong. Still she hesitated as her hand rested on the door handle.

Nothing looked out of the ordinary once she entered. She took a quick look around and then began too search more carefully. Papers with notes were lying on the desk but if you looked closely it wasn't just any ordinary mess. It was complete disorder and Sharp was always cleaning up any mess Flat caused. One of the drawers weren't completely closed either. Everywhere there were small signs that could just as well be normal as they could be telling something had happened here.

After double-checking she couldn't help but to feel her gaze drawn to the window. She had to take any possibility as a Sheikah. There was no way this murderer, because she assumed one had come here, was an amateur and an amateur wouldn't drag two bodies through a whole castle, no matter the hour. It was not very likely that the murderer would throw the bodies out of the window either since they would be found as soon as the sun rose.

If she had been doing this dreadful deed, assuming it had happened, what would she have done?

She climbed out of the window and onto the roof. The towers could work as shelter for many good hiding places and, as she had guessed as she snuck around in the darkness, she soon found the composer brothers' corpses.

Not wasting a second on grief or shock she began to bring their bodies back to their room. She felt cold as she did her job, ignoring the smell of blood and the dark liquid that stained her hands. She really felt like a tool, almost moving without thinking.

She lay them down on the floor so that they'd be spotted at the moment someone entered then sat down in front of their bodies and made a short prayer. She thought about some things Rauru had taught her about ceremonies.

Quietly she exited their room and closed the door. When she walked past a window she was surprised to see that the sky was brighter and that the sun soon would show itself over the line of mountains far away, past the fields.

She made a quick turn and headed outside instead of continuing to her room. When she reached the training grounds she wasn't surprised to see Link's father and a group of half-asleep soldiers lined up to begin their practice. She came just in time to see Link's foot getting squashed when his father purposely stepped on it.

"Does this look like a bed to you?" He yelled at his son, pointing at the dusty ground, while the other soldiers either tried to keep their eyes open or threw worried glances at their general.

"If it were a bed I'd lie down", Link said with a yawn only to seconds later have his father stepping onto his other foot.

"General, can I have a word with you?" Zelda interrupted.

Link, his father and all the soldiers bowed at the sight of her but she ignored them and waited for Link's father to answer. As he stood up straight again he said. "Of course." Then he turned to his men. "Get started, I don't want anyone slacking around here when I come back."

Link was trying to catch Zelda's gaze. She was glad that he probably wasn't angry anymore but she would have to talk to him later.

She walked away so no one, that wasn't supposed to, could hear what she had to say.

"I will need you to prepare the army. Make them ready and double the guard around the castle. Will you do this?"

He examined her in silence. She knew he wondered why she requested this, as the princess she wasn't much involved in ruling over Hyrule, at least not yet, and was certainly not much involved in what the army did, or so most people thought.

"Is it the Zoras?" he asked.

"Not necessarily, I just want you to be ready. It's not sure it'll be any battle but I want everyone to be ready."

He nodded in unspoken agreement. "I shall do as you wish", he said and made a brief bow. "May I return to my group now, princess?"

"Yes, you may." She watched him return to the soldiers which, at least most of them, had fallen asleep on the ground.

Link had told Zelda several amusing stories about his father and she had seen for herself how he could act, especially during a practice, but the only impression she got was that Link's father could be quite the gentleman if he wanted to.

When she was on her way inside she saw Ganondorf saddling his black horse and she was pretty sure that she knew where he was going. Zelda knew all about Sharp and Flat's research and that they had two old colleagues, one living in a hut by Lake Hylia and the other a witch, if you'd like to call her that, who now owned a store in Kakariko. Since Ganondorf was so convinced that these scientists would lead him to the Song of Time the two remaining were in great danger.

She was quite fed up with guessing the Gerudo's next moves, but seeing Ganondorf's large frame dash away on the huge dark stallion reminded her how important it was not to hesitate now.

"Kaepora Gaebora", she called out and soon she heard a hoot from a nearby tree.

"Go and warn the lake laboratory man that he's in danger but first you must find Taime and tell him to go to the witch in Kakariko and guard her with his life. If you consider them safe you may both return here afterwards, understand?"

"Yes, I quite clearly understand, know what you mean so to say. I realize what you want me to do. I am ready to do so. I'm aware of what you have asked of me. I identify the meaning of…" He stopped when he noticed her glare at him and flew off.

So, what would be the next step? Zelda thought. The scientists were now protected and the army was to be ready anytime. She would have to contact the Gorons because they had one of the spiritual stones, the Zoras because the Gerudos were bound to try and get them over to their side and she would have to decide whether the Ocarina and sapphire were safe in Link's hands or not.

Then I guess I should speak to my father, Zelda thought, dreading the meeting. When she reached his room a guard was standing outside, not that it was anything unusual about that.

"I'm very sorry my Princess but the king is very ill."

She should have expected him to be ill. He was always ill after she had reminded him of his wife or if she had, in his opinion, misbehaved.

"I guess I'll come back later then", she said. Secretly she was glad for this excuse to put off the meeting with her father. As she rounded the corner Impa stood there waiting for her.

"You did the right decision. There's no use talking to him."

Zelda frowned but didn't answer this comment. "I'm going after Ganondorf", she said instead.

"You should have done that much earlier."

Sure Ganondorf were a couple of minutes ahead but if he was leaving Castle Town he would have to cross the open Hyrule Field so if she used a simple spell to teleport herself to the drawbridge that was the entrance to Hyrule Castle Town she should surely be able to spot him.

Zelda concentrated on the force within her and raised her arms above her head as a spiral of green light surrounded her and she vanished. She looked around to see if she had managed to arrive at the right place. She was up on the walls surrounding Castle Town but there was no sight of Ganondorf anywhere. Had he not left the town? Then her sensitive ears made a small twitch as the sound, if yet very faint, reached her. She looked over her right shoulder to see Ganondorf on his black stallion talking to a beautiful red-headed woman riding a chestnut. The Gerudo had her long hair in a ponytail except some that fell down on each side of her face. She wore red traditional Gerudo garments that were a bit fancier than what was common. They stood by a big lone rock and nearby grew three trees. It was a good place to have a private conversation since the place wasn't very notable. Carefully Zelda crawled along the wall and when she got closer she slowly slid down so she got into a hanging position with only her hands visible over the edge of the wall and from Ganondorf's angle probably impossible to notice. Behind her was an empty alley and if someone happened to head her way Zelda was on her guard and would surely notice.

"It's always so chilly here", the woman said as she tried to warm herself.

"Back to the point", Ganondorf, who didn't seem to care one bit that she was cold, snapped. "Besides the desert gets cold when the night draws near, I would have thought that you would be able to handle this better. Maybe I made a mistake choosing you to be in charge for the troops outside of Hyrule Castle Town."

She immediately stopped shuddering and hugging herself and gave Ganondorf a displeased look.

"Yes, my Lord."

"So, you just said that all goes well with the Zoras?"

"Yes, several undetected spies, and the negotiations with King Zora are going well too."

"Yes, you said that before", Ganondorf replied dryly, obviously waiting for her to move on to a more interesting topic.

"Our warriors are ready for battle and all are in positions around the castle and Castle Town."

"As they have been for a while now." Ganondorf commented with the same bored tone to his voice. "Actually I have a few small assignments for you."

The woman frowned. "I don't take small assignments! I thought I got the important job when you asked me to be in charge out here but I can see that Nabooru as usual got the biggest piece of the cake."

"It's not nice to speak about your best friend like that", Ganondorf replied with a smirk. "She always makes you her second-in-command and, to be honest, I would have done the same decision myself."

"Second to Nabooru in other words", she answered bitterly. "She's a traitor and you know it!" She added, her voice an octave higher. "I told you that and you're still always choosing her!"

"I have my reasons", Ganondorf said while examining his nails. "And keep your voice down."

"I'll think I'll pass on these small assignments", she said with a jolt of her head that made her ponytail swing nonchalantly as she with ease jumped off her horse. Ganondorf got off his black stallion and blocked her way.

"Don't let your mood make you do anything reckless", he said.

"As long as you keep on letting Nabooru…" She began but was cut short when he gently tilted her chin upwards so that their eyes met.

"I'm planning to take care of Nabooru, since you are so close to her I'm actually quite a fool telling you this."

A blush spread over her tanned face as she kept watching him, speechless. Ganondorf was quick to take advantage of the situation. "You're not abandoning me, are you Aveil?" he asked with a voice soft as velvet. Zelda had never heard him speak in such a manner, not even when kissing up to her father. "Now when I'm taking such risks with you."

"O-of course not… how could I ever?" she answered and tried to keep her voice steady.

"I take it you won't warn the traitor Nabooru then?" Ganondorf said and removed his hand from under her chin.

"I'm on your side!" she ensured him fiercely.

"Good, I wouldn't have expected less from you. Now take a few with you to the hut at Lake Hylia and send a group to the witch in Kakariko. Understood? Come back before the sun sets and be sure to have some information about the Song of Time.

Zelda heard the sound of hooves clopping as Aveil set off towards her destination. Zelda winced as her arms were beginning to hurt after being strained for so long and carrying her weight, but she didn't plan on letting go yet.

Ganondorf was about to leave too when something in the sky caught his attention. He stayed where he was and soon enough the fire talented witch Koume flew down to hover on her broom beside him.

"What do you mean by flying around in broad daylight?" Ganondorf snarled.

"We know what's going on even if you choose not to inform us", she said and stuck her abnormally large nose in the air. "It felt like a good time to be present but the reasons I'm here is to tell you that I've stolen the ruby for you."

"What!" He reached out to grab her by the collar but she dodged him easily.

"Yes, I put a fake in its place of course, an easy task for a witch."

Ganondorf relaxed a little at this. It was important that they took the Hylians by surprise. He couldn't have the Gorons come and whine about their ruby at a time like this.

"Good", he said.

"I got the emerald too."

"What!" He reached out to try and grab her again but she flew out of reach and peered gleefully at him. Ganondorf mumbled a few curses to himself as he glared at his surrogate mother.

"Don't worry", she said. "The forest don't have any contact with the rest of Hyrule, it's a world of its own."

"Don't underestimate the Deku Tree, he always means trouble! I bet he's having fairies ruining things for us at this very moment!"

"Oh, the Deku tree is… not available for the moment", Koume said with a smirk.

"Really?"

"He's got a little problem with bugs to take care of first, but afterwards he can put his nose into our business… if he survives."

"Not very likely", Ganondorf stated.

At that moment his other surrogate mother Kotake showed up and as her sister she stopped and hovered close to Ganondorf.

"This is very important!" Kotake immediately reported. "Big problems with the Zoras!"

The other two silently waited for Kotake to continue. "Princess Ruto has convinced her father not to negotiate with us and several of our spies were detected."

"How did this affect the Zoras?" Ganondorf asked, his jaw tight as he anxiously awaited the answer.

"They are planning on contacting the King of Hyrule! As they feel about us now there's a risk they'll get involved in the coming war and on the Hylians' side! They might even make the Hylians prepare for war against us before we have time to do anything!""

It took a few seconds for the words to sink in. Then Ganondorf spoke, his pupils turned to slits and his voice trembling with what might have been either anger or the hopelessness he felt. "Well, then… freeze them. Freeze all of Zora's Domain and make sure not a single Zora is left to fight!"

Kotake smirked and without further ado immediately turned and headed back towards Zora's Domain.

"I guess that little problem is sorted out then", Ganondorf said as he exhaled without the slightest hint of sympathies for the Zoras and the fate that awaited them.

Zelda let go of the wall and landed on her feet. The Deku Tree was fighting death in this very moment and the Zoras was probably in even bigger trouble. Knowing that Kotake was heading straight to Zora's Domain Zelda made her decision. Changing into her alter ego she sprinted off after the witch. She could teleport a short distance but there wouldn't be much use trying to teleport inside the Domain since it was protected by magic and the only way in for someone outside was to play the song of the Royal Family, a song Impa had played for Zelda as a lullaby when she was younger. Ganondorf must of course have found out about the song after sneaking around in the castle for so long. Eyes narrowed, she used all her strength to speed up. She had to reach the waterfall which was the entrance to Zora's Domain fast enough.

"YAH!" Link leaped at the scarecrow with his sword and cut it into two equal pieces.

"What's with this attitude? If you continue like this we won't have any scarecrows left. We use them to train tactic, not attack", Link's father said. He sat cross-legged on the ground examining his own sword.

"What's the big deal? It's easy to make several more!"

"Yes, you can make them."

Link glared at his father. He was not in the mood for this extra practice. As usual his father let the others go and do what they want while he had to stay here and dance around a scarecrow, looking like a fool. "Why do I have to stay here?"

"Well, the army's schedule forces me to let them go but as your father I have the right to keep you here and gain some well-needed practice."

"I'm better than everyone else my age!" Link argued.

"You're not better than I was at your age… And you're not better than I am now."

"Oh, wanna fight?" Link said and immediately stepped into fighting position. Link's father looked up from the sword he held in his hand. "No."

"Waddya mean no!"

"After all these years of practice you can't even stand properly? I can't lower myself to that level just to fight you. You'll have to practice more."

Link threw his sword to the ground and stared at his father in disbelief. "What will I have to do to make you satisfied with me? I have never liked these practices but I still go! Why can't you give me some support? You always praise all the others!"

His father gave him a dark look. "Always? I only praise them when they do something that overcomes my expectations… and they never do… or if I see that their will falters. You may say that you hate these practices but it's clear that my blood runs through your veins. No matter if you are the only one that doesn't get praised, even though it gives you a hard time, even if it frustrates you to have to be the one to learn, the skill you receive is important to you. I have seen you grow Link and I have seen the focus fighting gives you, the joy when you master something new and how you can let your feelings out in one swing of your weapon."

Link sank to the ground. "It's not like you speaking of feelings", he mumbled.

"It's not like you speaking against your command", Link's father replied and began polishing his sword. Both remained silent for a few minutes until Link spoke.

"I've had some things on my mind lately… it's all right now but I'm feeling a bit restless today."

"Yes, I've been feeling like that too. We better be on our guard today."

"Hey, Dad, I've been wondering about something…" Link began. He wasn't done with his father yet.

"Yes, son?"

"Why didn't you get knighted? You're in charge for the army but you got as much status as any other soldier."

"I choose it to be that way."

"Why?"

"For you and your mother's sake."

Link clenched his teeth. "That's bullshit! The way we have it now… the way we've always lived… You're doing what you like best! Taking care of the army, being in charge while Mum is working hard everyday when she could have been pampered if you just had agreed to make a name of yourself, and me… I'm only interesting when I succeed to best all other soldiers. The army is your family, the strongest are the ones you really care about, ain't that the way it really is?" Before he could continue his father's fist hit him and he fell backwards from his sitting position to the ground. Dazed he touched his cheek where he had been hit.

"Get up boy and let me tell you something."

Link got up and glared at his father while considering if he should listen or hit him back.

"Don't look like that", his father said. "I only hit you so that you would calm down, you can take a hit. If I thought you had gone too far or wanted to punish you I would simply have slapped you."

Link still glared at him. Some of his hair fell in front of his eyes and he stubbornly tried to push it away but as usual it was to no avail.

"When the war was over I got a choice. Yes, the king wanted me to become a knight, a general, I was asked to become the second in command for the whole army, only second to the king. It would mean fame and honor, everything my father had taught me was important. He trained me about as hard as I trained you. The army was my life and my family but they can never take your place."

"That's what you say", Link said and refused to meet his father's gaze. "You always talk about me winning fame and glory but I could have had that already from the start and what about Mum?"

"It was because of her I said no. First I was really happy. The thought of being able to give your mother whatever she wished and having much more time with you, it was more than I ever dreamt of. But she… she has never been one to sit and do nothing. She told me that she loved it the way we already had it. I tried to convince her that we would have servants and no worries but she only said that she also in the future wanted to see my face light up when I ate her cooking. So I gave in and every day when I come home and see your mother, her cheeks rosy from working, and her smile when we sit down to have dinner together all three of us, I know I made the right decision."

"But… You always talk about honor and fighting and wars and now you're trying to tell me that all you ever speak about, you gave all of it up to eat Mum's cooking?"

"I think you missed the point."

"No! You said that you could have had more time with me if you had accepted and that we would be honored for your deeds in the war and respected but you still choose this!" Link rose from the ground and stared at his father in fury.

"Son, I may have lost some of the fame I could have gotten but let me tell you this… True honor is the one you deserve, not something you were born to. I could have let you grow up like a little prince and given you mother a new necklace each new day but before I made my decision your mother had made me realize that the title I would have received didn't have anything to do with the respect, fame and honor I had won. So I asked of the king not to choose me for such honorable positions. So he obeyed my request and I was still about as important as a regular soldier but the king put me in charge for training soldiers. I guess it was a sort of promotion." He laughed when he had finished.

"That still doesn't explain why you treat me like you do!" Link said. He wanted to kick or hit something, scream like a child but all he could do was clench his hands into fists and keep looking straight at his father.

"I never saw the point in training when I was young", his father began. "Now, I love it. It's a part of me I can't be without. You'll feel like a part of you is missing if you don't let all the skills you possess come to their right."

"I'm not you!"

"Believe me. You'll regret it if you take your talent for granted."

"Nothing you say makes any sense!" Link exclaimed as his father rose from the ground. "You talk about earning honor, deserving it and talk as if you know me when you've never cared about what I think before! How can you do one thing and say another?"

"Stop acting foolish, just think about what I said", his father said with a chuckle while dusting off his clothes.

"How can you say that you should deserve respect and not receive it through birth and still follow the king so loyally?"

"Link…" His father sighed. "The royal family was chosen by the goddesses… if the kings and queens in this family hadn't taken care of Hyrule I would never have followed them… someone must take the place on the throne. The king has changed but he has always taken care of Hyrule, I knew him quite well before… I'm sure his daughter will become a magnificent queen."

"Zelda…" Link uttered.

"Princess Zelda, Link, yes but of course it's more interesting who the new king will be. There have been a lot of suitors here lately."

Link snorted at this. Link's father didn't seem to notice how displeased Link was at this change of subject and continued. "A queen doesn't do much but I'm sure she'll choose a great king, I even heard Adaruriku was here with his son Aeri." Link who was close to biting off his own tongue couldn't stay silent anymore and shouted. "See! If you just had accepted I could have…"

"What?"

Link thought about the words that had been close to leaving his mouth. There was no way he could say anything like that. That he could have been a worthy suitor. Sure, if his father had accepted he could have seen more of Zelda, but that was because they were friends. If she went and married was not something he cared about.

His father laughed and patted Link on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll get a girlfriend one day. They are always so quick marrying off the royalties."

"That's not the point Dad!"

"A good woman doesn't care about money. Is that why you've been so grumpy? You're not out visiting the local pubs at night, are you?"

Link slapped his forehead. How could his father be so stupid?

"I guess we can stop practice now…"

Link looked up at him in surprise.

"I'm having a few things to take care of with the 'higher people' so to speak. You can go and have some fun."

"You sure?" Link asked. He wasn't convinced his father really had said that.

"Yes, and Link I really am proud of you."

Link didn't say anything. By now he seriously suspected that he had got something stuck in his ears.

"I only want you to be able to take care of yourself. Sorry if I'm a bit harsh at times. I guess I'm a bit selfish pushing you to your limits, but one of the best things I know is to show everyone what my son can do. I am proud of you. Very proud"

"…Really?"

"Well, I better go before I'm late and you better try to get out of bed a bit earlier tomorrow. You can't be late for practice!" And with a small wave his father left.

Link also left to look for his mother. As he guessed she was still working and it didn't take long to find her.

Ruto banged on the thick ice with her fists, emotions overwhelming as the Zora frozen in the ice below her stared up with empty eyes, his hand outstretched towards the solid and cold surface. Above Kotake flew in circles on her broom. "Stay there", she whispered as she collected her magic in the palm of her right hand, eyes locked on Ruto.

Ruto glared up at Kotake in fury and fast and graciously, like most Zoras moved (the king a great exception), she made a leap towards the caves above the now frozen pond and barely dodged the spell that froze the cave's wall next to her.

"You're the only one left."

The witch's cackle echoed throughout the cave. Ruto silently shook her head even if the witch wasn't there to see. Then she slowly and as silently as she could began to make her way towards the Zoras' storing. She took a few seconds to take deep breaths as she was inside and then grabbed a spear that was leaning against the wall along with several more.

"I'll show you", Ruto whispered as she stepped out and headed back to the pond. Having to watch the once crystal clear water where her people used to dive and swim now frozen with them caught in it made it feel like the ice before her spread inside her body to her heart to make it stop beating. The witch was probably flying around inside the caves looking for her. She was the only one left. That witch had frozen her father too. The smaller waterfall inside the domain, with its spring below her father's throne, was also frozen, a long pillar of ice and no longer flowing water. Her grip around the spear tightened and her body was tense as she waited for the witch to show herself.

"Come on you witch!" she yelled, her voice steady despite her trembling body.

Zelda, as Sheik, rushed in just in time to see Kotake throwing an orb of magic energy at Ruto who dodged it and threw her spear with impressive aim and force. Kotake pulled to the right but the spear brushed against her and she clenched her teeth in pain as it scratched her. "You little…" she hissed and flew down towards Ruto, ready to strike with a new ball of gathered magic.

"Ruto!" Zelda yelled and ran out on the ice.

"Come one!" Ruto yelled at Kotake with her hands clenched into fists, not running away.

"Ruto! Move!" Zelda yelled as Kotake fired her magic at Ruto who had made a leap towards the witch. Zelda had jumped at the same time as Ruto. Reaching the Zora princess, she wrapped her arms around her in midair and forced Ruto to be pushed the direction Zelda had jumped. When landing Zelda lift Ruto up in her arms and then immediately jumped again to dodge another of Kotake's magic attacks.

"Let go of me!" Ruto yelled. "I'll kill her!"

"Stop struggling", Zelda said, careful not to drop her act as Sheik. "What's important now is your safety."

Ruto surprisingly stopped struggling and leaned her head against Zelda's chest. Zelda headed for the exit and did her best to make Kotake lose sight of them. Luckily enough there were several good hiding places by the river outside of the domain and it seemed as if they finally had gotten rid of Kotake. Not able to take any more Ruto cuddled closer to Sheik and began to cry.

"Sheik", she sobbed.

"Don't worry. You shouldn't cry now. You always act so strong Ruto and now's your chance to prove it. We'll fix this, but right now you'll need to hide for that witch, understood?"

Ruto nodded. Zelda jumped down to a small circle of rocks. She put Ruto down and went to stand in the middle of the circle. Quickly she whispered a spell as she shaped her hands to different signs.

"Sheik", Ruto whispered from the ground where she sat on her knees. Then with a crack the ground opened below Zelda who jumped to the side and lifted Ruto up again. "You'll hide down there for now. You can leave when you know where to go or if you're in real danger. Kotake will probably be looking for you for a while. I can't take you with me now, she might see us."

"No!" Ruto wrapped her arms around Zelda. "I want to stay with you Sheik".

Without a word Zelda jumped down in the opened whole, still carrying Ruto who gasped as they fell down.

"Stay here", Zelda told her and jumped back up.

"B-but Sheik! Come back!" Ruto yelled at the light shining down from above. "Come back! I… I didn't get to thank you! You can hear me, right Sheik! You can't leave without letting me know you heard my thanks!" Ruto sank to her knees and stared up at the opening. She felt so silly screaming like that, making up bad excuses for Sheik to come back. "Well, Link will come and save me", she happily told herself.

First off, this story has passed 100 reviews! Wow, I can't believe it! I actually read through them all to celebrate and my cheeks were burning (with pride and happiness) afterwards. I would have had this done for you much earlier but when I actually had a break from school the computer crashed and we were afraid everything was gone but some computer geniuses fixed it. Unfortunately my break was over by then. Ironic, isn't it?

I bet you all can guess what's going to happen. I didn't bother to try and hide it. There are plenty of hints everywhere.